About the Institute
The Esmeralda Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to lifelong learning across generations, inspired by the 150-year-old Chautauqua Institution.
We co-organize the month-long Edge Esmeralda event in northern Sonoma County, which is modeled after Chautauqua's summer program.
We have also hosted conferences for scientists from around the world on frontier technology such as sustainable agriculture, educational technology, vaccine development, mental health, disease prevention & eradication, disaster response & resilience, climate change mitigation techniques, space exploration, advanced materials science, and medical advancements.
Donations to Esmeralda Institute are tax-deductible, and you can request our IRS determination letter to see our 501c3 tax-exempt status via the email at the bottom of the website.
Esmeralda Institute is a DBA ("doing business as") of Adventureland Institute, the legal entity on file with the IRS. A DBA is a registered trade name that allows an organization to operate publicly under a name other than its legal name, without forming a separate legal entity. Learn more about DBAs from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Our mission
The Esmeralda Institute’s mission is to support curiosity, evidence, and discovery frontiers of science, accelerate the work of scientists and technologists, enhance communication among scientists and the public, and advance international cooperation in science and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.
We want to create an optimistic vision for the future, accelerate the work of the scientists and technologists who are building it, and help this global community of builders connect with each other and share ideas to advance science.